Will a new car be the same as original after being repaired at a 4S shop after a collision?
3 Answers
A new car that has been in a collision cannot achieve the same perfect fit as before, no matter how well it is repaired; there will always be some flaws. Here is some related information about new car repairs: 1. Repair conditions: If a new car's engine is damaged in a collision, the extent of the damage must be assessed. If the main components of the engine (such as the cylinder block and cylinder head) are not cracked or damaged, only the external attached parts need to be replaced. These parts are covered by the warranty policy for 1 year or 20,000 kilometers. If the main components of the engine are damaged, the entire engine assembly will need to be replaced. 2. Exterior damage: If the damage is mainly to the exterior parts, as long as the 4S shop uses original factory parts for repairs, there should be no noticeable issues and it generally won't have any impact.
As someone who frequently helps friends assess vehicle conditions, I believe that repairs done at 4S shops after a new car collision can generally achieve results close to OEM standards, but claiming they're exactly the same would be stretching it. They use genuine parts—like doors or bumpers—that fit quite well after replacement. The main issue lies in body repairs: paintwork may not be as precise as factory standards, with color discrepancies or micro-scratches noticeable under sunlight. For structural deformations, repaired weld points differ from original ones, potentially causing slight suspension noises when driving. Overall, daily driving won't be significantly affected, but restoring the car to its pristine factory condition is nearly impossible. Post-repair, I recommend spending time inspecting details to avoid impacting resale value, since new cars depreciate rapidly after accidents.
A novice driver friend of mine had a collision with his brand-new car last month. After repairs at the 4S shop, it looked fine, but something felt off on the drive home. The steering wheel was slightly misaligned, and the engine sounded different during acceleration. The dealership claimed they used genuine parts and guaranteed full restoration, but the paint color appeared noticeably brighter in the shade, and the trunk lid opened less smoothly. While average consumers might miss these details, careful comparison reveals the car lacks the seamless feel of factory-new condition. I recommend extensive test drives post-repair, thorough paint inspections in direct sunlight, and vigilance against recurring minor issues. Dealing with a damaged new car is frustrating enough—post-repair, stay alert to protect its value and avoid further hassles.
